 REVIEW OF SCHEMES UNDER NATIONAL
 POLICY ON EDUCATION, 1986.

A statement of the various schemes under the National Policy on Education with particulars of funding pattern and projection of fund requirements upto 1994-95 is furnished at the end of this Annexure. Presented below is a write-up on important schemes.

Elementary Education

1. OPERATION BLACKBOARD

The scheme of Operation Blackboard has been launched to ensure minimum essential facilities for primary schools - two reasonably large rooms usable in all weathers, toys and games materials, blackboards, maps and charts and other learning materials and an additional teacher, preferably a woman in single teacher schools.

The scheme envisages coverage of all primary schools in 30% of the blocks in 1988-89 and 50% in 1989-90, 20% of the blocks having been covered in 1987-88. Preference is to be given to selection of blocks in educationally backward areas and areas having concentration of SCs/STs and minorities. An effort has been made to provide funds for class room structures under two Central programmes - NREP & RLEGP Funds for appointment of 2nd teacher in single teacher schools and for supply of teaching/learning equipment are being made available to States from Central Plan. Liabilities in respect of teachers' Posts are to be taken over by the state Governments/Union Territories after the Seventh Plan.

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2. NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

The programme of Non-formal education(NPE) has been designed for habitations without schools, school drop-outs working children and girls who cannot attend whole day schools. Since the Sixth Plan, under this Scheme* assistance was being given for Setting up NPE Centres for Governments and voluntary agencies in the nine educationally backward States - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jarmmu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Now assistance is being given additionally to Arunachal Pradesh. The scheme has also been extended to other States as well (other than educationally backward States), assistance being confined to urban slums, hilly, desert and tribal areas and project areas for education of working children.

Central assistance under this Scheme is given on the following pattern:

                 (i) Co-educational Centres     -        50%
                      
                 (ii) Centres exclusively for girls  -   90%
        
                 (iii) Centres run by voluntary
        
                  organisations                      - 100%

3. TEACHER EDUCATION

(i) MASS ORIENTATION OF SCHOOL TEACHERS (MOST)

School teachers are being given orientation on a mass programme in-regard to the new perspectives under the NPE. During 1985-87 nearly a million teachers have been oriented. This programme will continue till the end of the Seventh Plan.

(ii) DISTRICT INSTITUTES OF EDUCATION & TRAINING (DIETs)

Teacher Education Programmes are being revamped by the establishment of DIETs (District Institutes of Education and Training). These Institutes will give training and resource support for primary school teachers. Existing Institutes are upgraded by provision of appropriately qualified staff to ensure professionalism. They are also being provided infrastructure support in terms of buildings and equipment. Wherever there is need, new Institutes are being set up too. In order to avoid wastage, efforts are being made to close down unviable Institutes. Four hundred District Institutes are sought to be established during the Seventh Plan.

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(iii) COLLEGES OF TEACHER EDUCATION (CTEs)

In order to improve the standards of teacher education at the secondary level* two hundred and fifty Colleges of Teacher Education are being established during the Seventh Plan. Hundred per cent central assistance is being given for provision of academic and hostel buildings, laboratories, workshops, libraries, educational technology and computer facilities etc. Fifty of these Secondary Teacher Education institutions are also to be upgraded into Institutes of Advanced Study in Education (IASEs).

(iv) STRENGTHENING OF SCERTS

Further, development grants are to be given during the Seventh Plan to the extent of 50% for strengthening of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs).

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SCHOOL EDUCATION

4. REIMBURSEMENT OF TUTION FEE FOR GIRLS IN CLASSES IX TO XII TO STATES/UNION TERRITORIES

This is a scheme which has been under implementation since 1985- 86. This is to be in operation till the end of the Seventh Plan. The objective of the scheme is to encourage retention of girls in secondary and higher secondary Stages and also to enable them to be prepared for higher education.

5. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

It is envisaged that modern educational technology must reach out to the most distant areas and most deprived sections of the people, simultaneously with areas of comparative affluence and ready accessability. A Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) has been set up. State Institutes of Education Technology (SIETs) have been set up too in six States - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. The CIET is to produce audio- visual programmes for educational purposes. Buildings and equipment are being provided to the Central and States Institutes. There is a commitment for Central support to Educational Technology Cells. By the end of the Seventh Plan, it is proposed to provide one lakh colour TV sets and five lakh radio-cum-cassette Players to primary and Upper Primary schools.

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6. COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS (CLASS)

This scheme for Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools had been started in 1250 schools by 1986-87. Following up on an evaluation of the implementation of the scheme by the Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, and based on the recommendations of an Expert Group under Education Secretary, this scheme is being revamped. This envisages implementation of a large programme of software generation with emphasis on Indian languages and supply of 5-8 micro computers per school instead of two at present.

7. IMPROVEMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

Recognising the need for strengthening science education in schools, a Centrally sponsored scheme has been brought under implementation. States/Union Territories will be provided assistance for supply of science kits to upper primary schools, science equipment to secondary and higher secondary schools and for in-house training to teachers.

8. VOCATIONALISATION

The NPE envisages that 10% of the students at the Higher Secondary stage should be diverted to vocationalisation stream by 1990. For this purpose,

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a scheme of vocationalisation has been brought under implementation. This scheme provides for establishment of a management structure running right down to districts (in terms of joint Council of vocational education at the National level, State Council of Vocational education, Units for Vocational education in District Educational Offices), training of teachers, academic resource support by designing appropriate vocational courses and provision of workshop infrastructure in schools.

This scheme is to equip students undergoing vocational courses at the Higher Secondary stage with terminal competencies to take up skilled employment.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL ORIENTATION TO SCHOOL EDUCATION

This scheme has been approved for implementation in order that environment consciousness is created amongst the school children. States/Union Territories will be assisted for undertaking various environment related activities. Curricula and instructional materials are to be appropriately designed to give environmental orientation. Voluntary agencies will be involved too.

10. INTEGRATED EDUCATION FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

This is a scheme which has been under implementation by the Education Department since 1982. Implementation of this scheme assumes particular importance under the NPE, objective being integration of the physically and mentally handicapped children with the general community.

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Under the scheme financial assistance is given to States for creation of implementation cells, provision of facilities and equipment to disabled children as well as for meeting expenditure on the emoluments of special teachers.

11. NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS

This programme envisages establishment of residential schools for the benefit of talented rural children. Admissions are by open examinations conducted on All-India basis by NCERT. The entire expenses on buildings, teachers, students' boarding, lodging, uniform and text-books are borne by the Government of India. The schools are run by an autonomous body, the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION

12. UGC ACTIVITIES

Major activities in the area of Higher Education involve consolidation of facilities in the existing institutions, improvement of management and redesigning and restructuring of courses.

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) is engaging itself in the above tasks - by controlling the development proposals of universities, reviewing management patterns of universities, establishing curriculum development centres, establishing common facilities, particularly for undertaking research etc.

13. REVISION OF SCALES OF PAY OF UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TEACHERS:

In order that talents are attracted and retained at the University and higher education levels and that the status of the teaching community in enhanced, a Non-Plan scheme has been brought under implementation. The scheme is for revision of pay scales of teachers in universities and colleges. Central Government are to provide assistance to the State Governments to the extent of 80% of the additional expenditure for the period up to 31,3,1990. After this date the States are to take over the liabilities.

14. NATIONAL TESTING SERVICE

This Service envisages conduct of tests to determine and certify the suitability of candidates for specified jobs that do not require a formal degree or diploma. Further, the Service will also make its expertise available to existing institutions for holding preliminary/screening tests, etc. This is to be established as an autonomous body. Details of

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organisation are being worked out.

15. INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

The Open University system is meant to provide the facility of Distance Education. The Indira Gandhi National Open University having been established in September, 1985 has already commenced diploma and Certificate courses in crucial subjects such as Management, Rural Development etc.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

16. During the past four decades, there has been a phenomenal expansion of Technical Education in the country. Having taken note of the vast change in socioeconomic, industrial and technological fronts, the NPE has called for a revamping of the Technical Education system. The more important programmes are the following:-

(i) Modernisation and removal of obsolescence

of engineering and technological institutions;

(ii) Creation of infrastructure in areas of emerging technologies, removal of weaknesses in the existing facilities for crucial areas of technology;

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(iii) Transfer of technology to rural areas

through Community Polytechnics;

(iv) Development of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

(v) Consolidation of facilities in Regional Colleges (RECs)

ADULT EDUCATION

17. With the approval of the National Literacy Mission (NLM), as one of the Technology Missions, the perspective in planning the strategy of Adult Education Programme has changed. Under the National Adult' Education Programme (NAEP) introduced in 1978 it had not been possible to achieve any significant functional literacy. Adult learners were dropping out at different stages after enrolment. Those who attained functional literacy tended to relapse into illiteracy for want of follow up in terms of continuing education, The National .Literacy Mission seeks to substantially change this situation by a multipronged strategy application of proven findings of scientific and technological research so as to change the learning environment, institutionalisation of post-literacy through JANA SHIKSHAN NILAYAM etc. The Directorate of Adult Education which is the basic resource Organisation in this area is to be strengthened

in terms of additional manpower and equipment. The State Directorates of Adult Education are to be strengthened too.

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The Shramik Vidyapeeths have to be revamped.

SCHOLARSHIPS

18. The Department of Education implements the following scholarship schemes:

(i) National Scholarship Scheme;

(ii) Scholarship scheme for talented children from rural areas;

(iii) Scholarship scheme for upgradation of merit of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes;

(iv) Scheme of Scholarship to students from Non-Hindi speaking States for post-matric studies in Hindi;

(v) Scheme of Scholarship in approved residential Secondary schools.

The objective of these schemes is to provide opportunities for talented students as also for assisting those who are not financially well off or are deprived. Backlog liabilities are taken by State Governments. Commitments on fresh scholarships are borne by the Central Government.

LANGUAGES

19. The Department of Education promotes languages development through several schemes for Hindi, Modern Indian languages and Sanskrit. There are various field

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organisations engaged with the development of languages the Central Hindi Directorate, the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Bureau for Promotion of Urdu etc. Grants-in-aid are also given to voluntary organisations engaged in the development of languages, to scholars in indigent circumstances, etc.

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